Burdekin plum – Pleiogynium timorense

Description

Description

Burdekin plum is yet another Australian native (also to Malesia and some Pacific islands) fruit totally unrelated to plums but called one anyway. Burdekin plum is from the cashew/mango family (Anacardiaceae), and is one of the few members of that family that would likely be able to grow and fruit outside in New Zealand. The fruit are large, dark red roughly the size of a plum, with a very pretty dimpling pattern on the outside (like a large Surinam cherry), with a single large seedpod inside. The fruit must be overripened to be able to be eaten, and then they are somewhat tart. They can be used for jams and preserves.

Burdekin plum prefer rich, well-drained soil with lots of sun, and can handle drought conditions. Mature trees can handle a small amount of frost. It’s unknown how far down New Zealand they’ll be able to grow, but likely microclimate has a large effect on this. Like most Anacardiaceae, they are dioecious (two-sexed), so require separate male and female plants in order to produce fruit.

Grown in optimal conditions in Australia it can reach 20m tall. However in New Zealand it’s not likely to be much higher than 8m in most locations. It can also be kept smaller in pots.

 

Seedpods per packet: 1
(1-3 sprouts per seedpod are expected)

 

Growing Instructions

Soak the seedpod for 24-48 hours until hydrated, and then either plant directly into moist soil, or sprout in a bag with sphagnum moss / vermiculite, before planting.

Thank you for buying from West Coast Agroforestry – your support helps us to continue agroforestry / food forest research on the West Coast.